Challenge what you know about your metabolism. The truth is, your metabolism works quite differently than you realize. I’ve dieted celebrities, bikini models, and pro athletes. I’m not talking about Jimmy-local either. I mean the guys and girls you can buy posters of at Wal-Mart. How’d they get those ultra-coveted physiques? Not how you’d think.

The Truth About Weight Loss Exposed

The key to long lasting weight loss is to build your very own Fire-Breathing, Mountain-Crushing, BadassMetabolism. Yup, if you want the pounds gone for good you’re going to have to build a metabolism to stand the test of time.

Everyone asks me how I get my bodybuilders and models to look like that. My tongue-in-cheek answer is —“boiled chicken, brown rice, and broccoli.” Then it comes -“Will I look like that if I eat boiled chicken and brown rice?”

In a single word —“Nope.”

Lets get real, if you’re used to ordering cheeseburgers by the dozen and drinking soda pop from a trough, making the switch to clean foods will help. However, the real reason my physique athletes get ultra-lean for competition isn’t the boiled chicken. It’s because we built a Fire-Breathing Monster Metabolism in the off-season while eating more and training. It’s easy to shed fat on 1500 - 2000 calories when you’re used to eating twice that.

See why puddle hopping from one diet plan to another isn’t going to work? If your metabolism feels like it’s running slow —it probably is. Going from one restrictive program to the next is only going to make it worse and lead to more weight gain.

Here are four ways to make sure this doesn’t happen to you

1) Break up your weight lossIf you have a lot of weight to lose or you’re already dealing with a slowed metabolism from dieting -you’re going to need to break up your weight loss. Trying to lose all your weight in one push will grind your metabolism into the ground. You’ll end up paying for your lighter body with a slower metabolic rate. Don’t do it. You’ll gain your weight back and it will be even harder your next attempt.

Break your weight loss up. Not sure how much you can lose in one push -no problem -your body will tell you. Reduce the amount of food you’re used to eating modestly. Track your weight and maintain objectivity. If you’re losing weight don’t try to speed it up by eating even less. Decrease food ONLY when weight loss stops, not slows.

Break from weight loss before breaching the “gimmick” threshold. “I can lose more weight if I stick to pickled eggs and seltzer water or eat everything in a 25 minute window.” You’ll be turning your metabolism into a Flea Catcher, not a Whale Hunter (pun intended). Instead, pause the weight loss, eat slightly more food and up your exercise. A few days later, rinse and repeat. Once your weight is stable at a high calorie range (for you), you’re ready to push for more weight loss - not before.

2) Eat more frequentlyThe key is getting your body used to more food without gaining fat. There are two tricks here. First, increase food slowly. Second, increase meal frequency rather then adding more calories to the same meals. It makes it easier to add calories without storing fat.

3) Prioritize your timeI’ve been a weight loss coach for almost two decades. I can tell you the secret for people who are successful long-term verses short. Here it is —Time Management.

I’d bet with one glance at your phone you could tell me exactly what you’ll be doing tomorrow at 10AM. I’d also bet if I were to ask you what you’re planning to eat for lunch tomorrow you wouldn’t know. Fix that —and while you’re at it, prepare a couple snacks along with your lunch in advance -it will change your life.

Oh by the way, if you’re taking time to exercise but not yet implementing the above strategy, you’re doing it wrong and you need to adjust your priorities.

4) Think locomotive, not bow and arrowAs an industry we need to move away from short-lived get-thin-quick solutions that treat the symptom and not the cause -I’m pointing at you mainstream medical care. We need to move toward truthful and transparent education surrounding how the metabolism actually works -I’m pointing at you weight loss industry.

Currently, the prevailing weight loss model is a bow and arrow approach. The arrow shoots out of the bow with speed and enthusiasm but in a few seconds it crashes to the ground. Now it’s a stick in the mud. Diets act the same way.

Learn from the locomotive. It takes a lot more energy and effort to get it moving but once it gains momentum it’s unstoppable. Focus your efforts on building that MonsterMetabolism and you’ll eventually gain enough momentum to transform in a lasting way.